Shutter Speed
Introduction
Shutter speed and aperture settings control the quality of exposure in
photography. Understand the effect one has on the other.
Shutter speed
Shutter speed is the amount of time, in fractions of a second, that it takes the
opening in the shutter curtain to pass across the film surface.
Shutter speed
settings
A dial on the camera body is marked with industry standard shutter-speed
settings of T or , B, 1, ½, l/4 l/8 l/15, l/30, l/60, l/125, l/250, l/500,
l/1000, and l/2000. Select’the interval you want the shutter to remain open
by moving a lever or dial to that particular setting. It should easily click into
place. You cannot select a shutter speed in between two indicated speeds.
T or : At the setting marked “T or , ” the shutter opens the first time the
shutter-release button is pressed and remains open until the shutter-release
button is pressed again.
B: At the setting marked “B,” the shutter remains open as long as the
shutter-release button is held down and closes when released.
l/30: This setting is the longest recommended shutter speed for hand-held
exposures. For any setting longer than l/30 second, set the camera on a
tripod or sturdy support.
l/60: This is generally the recommended shutter speed for flash photographs.
At this speed, the shutter speed, aperture, and flash are synchronized for
optimum exposure. Flash synchronization may also be indicated by numbers
in red or another color or by a lightning bolt on the shutter speed dial.
Long (slow) shutter speeds: Slower shutter speeds (T or , B, 1, l/2, l/4,
l/8,, l/15, and l/30) require more stable platforms or tripods to minimize
blur. Not intended to stop action, slow shutter speeds work best in low light
situations with little movement. The results can be very fine grain, overall
image sharpness, and subtle gradations of tone.
Short (fast) shutter speeds: With faster shutter speeds (l/60, l/125, l/250,
l/1000, and l/2000), the faster the shutter speed, the more likely you are to
stop action. One drawback to faster shutter speeds is that less of the overall
image will be focused.
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